Al Ahli v Al Nassr Saudi Pro League clasico could be brought forward after Asian Cup delay

The Al Ahli v Al Nassr clasico could be revived after the postponement of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 created an opportunity to rearrange the Roshn Saudi League fixture. The Asian Football Confederation announced on Tuesday that the tournament, which had been scheduled to begin in January 2027, will instead start in December of the same year.

Saudi journalist Abdulaziz Al-Osaimi said in a post on his personal X account that the postponed match between Al Ahli and Al Nassr is expected to be played at the end of November. Al Nassr had originally been due to visit Al Ahli on 15 October at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah, in the ninth round of the Roshn Saudi League.

However, the Roshn League association announced on 13 October that the match would be postponed until March next year because of logistical circumstances. The decision to move the AFC Asian Cup 2027 to the end of next year has now given the league association greater scope to revise its fixture schedule.

Matches can potentially be redistributed across the remaining period of the season without creating significant pressure on the calendar. The association has already postponed the 13th round of the Roshn Saudi League, which had been scheduled to take place between 5 and 7 November.

That change was made because there is now sufficient time to play the fixtures later without placing heavy demands on the schedule. The possible rearrangement of Al Ahli v Al Nassr follows the wider changes prompted by the Asian Cup's new dates.

A confirmed date for the clasico has not been announced, although the end of November has been identified as the expected window.